Treatment method

ABSTRACT

A treatment method is disclosed capable of reducing the burden on a patient and enhancing the effect of killing tumor cells. The method includes administering an antibody-photosensitive substance into a vein; inserting an endoscope from a mouth, a nose, or an anus and bringing the endoscope to a vicinity of a tumor after the administering of the antibody-photosensitive substance into the vein; placing an optical fiber into the tumor or in the vicinity of the tumor; irradiating at least one of the tumor, the vicinity of the tumor, or a regional lymph node with a first near-infrared ray by the optical fiber; and irradiating the antibody-photosensitive substance bound to a tumor cell membrane in the tumor cell with a second near-infrared ray after the irradiating with the first near-infrared ray, the second near-infrared ray having a shorter wavelength than that of the first near-infrared ray.

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a divisional of U.S. application Ser. No. 16/804,420filed on Feb. 28, 2020, which claims priority to Japanese ApplicationNo. 2019-036838 filed on Feb. 28, 2019, the entire contents of which areincorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure generally relates to a treatment method forkilling tumor cells.

BACKGROUND DISCUSSION

Although progress has been made in the clarification of thedevelopmental mechanism, diagnostic methods, and treatments method ofcancers, much of the advanced cancers cannot currently be cured. Thedevelopment of new early diagnostic methods and treatment methods hasbeen required for improvement of the present situation. Cancerimmunotherapy is one of the expected treatment methods. In the cancerimmunotherapy, T cells (CTL) which attack the cancer cells play a keyrole, and effective activity of CTL is considered to influencetherapeutic effects. It is important in the activation of CTL that thecancer immunity cycle progresses rather smoothly. First, after thecancer cells are damaged and cancer antigens are released, antigenpresentation is efficiently performed by antigen-presenting cells(dendritic cells and macrophages), thereby activating CTLs. Therefore,when the antigens are released in the cancer area, it is important togather and activate more antigen-presenting cells (for example, seeJP-T-2001-510806).

Examples of a method for activating antigen-presenting cells include amethod for administering an adjuvant. However, compounds used asadjuvants are often toxic.

SUMMARY

A treatment method is disclosed, which is capable of reducing therelative burden on a patient and enhancing the effect of killing a tumorcell.

According to an aspect of the present disclosure, a treatment method isdisclosed for killing a tumor cell, the method including inserting acatheter into a main artery of an organ having the tumor cell,administering an antibody-photosensitive substance into a vein beforethe insertion of the catheter or administering theantibody-photosensitive substance into the artery from the catheterafter the insertion of the catheter, inserting an optical fiber into thecatheter, reducing an influence of blood in the artery on anear-infrared ray, irradiating at least one of a tumor having the tumorcell, a vicinity of the tumor, or a regional lymph node with a firstnear-infrared ray by the optical fiber, and irradiating anantibody-photosensitive substance bound to a tumor cell membrane in thetumor cell with a second near-infrared ray having a shorter wavelengththan that of the first near-infrared ray.

With the treatment method having the above-described configuration, itis possible to effectively irradiate at least one of the tumor, thevicinity of the tumor, or a regional lymph node with the firstnear-infrared ray by the optical fiber inserted into an artery near thetumor through the catheter. For this reason, more antigen-presentingcells can be gathered at an irradiation target site, and when the tumorcells are damaged, and the antigen is released, antigen presentation canbe rather efficiently performed by more antigen-presenting cells,leading to T cell activation. Further, by the optical fiber insertedinto an artery near the tumor, the antibody-photosensitive substancebound to the tumor cell can be effectively irradiated with the secondnear-infrared ray. For this reason, since the photosensitive substanceof the antibody-photosensitive substance can cause a chemical reactionand damage tumor cells, the antigen is released in a state where moreantigen-presenting cells are gathered, and the antigen presentation isefficiently performed, leading to T cell activation. As a result, thepresent treatment method can improve or recover the attack capability ofimmunity against cancer. Further, since there is no need to administeran adjuvant in order to activate the antigen-presenting cells, it ispossible to reduce the burden on a patient due to side effects of theadjuvant.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a treatmentmethod is disclosed, which includes inserting a catheter into a mainartery of an organ having the tumor cell, inserting an optical fiberinto the catheter, reducing an influence of blood in the artery on anear-infrared ray, irradiating at least one of a tumor having the tumorcell, a vicinity of the tumor, or a regional lymph node with a firstnear-infrared ray by the optical fiber, and administering an anti-canceragent into a vein or administering the anti-cancer agent into the arteryfrom the catheter.

With the treatment method having the above-described configuration, itis possible to effectively irradiate at least one of the tumor, thevicinity of the tumor, or a regional lymph node with the firstnear-infrared ray by the optical fiber inserted into an artery near thetumor through the catheter. For this reason, more antigen-presentingcells can be gathered at an irradiation target site, and when tumorcells are damaged and release the antigen, antigen presentation isefficiently performed by antigen-presenting cells, leading to the T cellactivation. Further, in the present treatment method, as a method fordamaging the tumor cell, the anti-cancer agent is administeredintravenously or locally to an artery, so the antigen is released fromthe tumor cell in a state where the antigen-presenting cell gather inthe tumor, thereby efficiently presenting the antigen by moreantigen-presenting cells, leading to T cell activation. As a result, thepresent treatment method can improve or recover the attack capability ofimmunity against cancer. Therefore, the present treatment method canenhance the effect of killing a tumor cell. Further, since there is noneed to administer an adjuvant in order to activate theantigen-presenting cells, it is possible to reduce the burden on apatient such as side effects due to the adjuvant. When the anti-canceragent is locally administered, the anti-cancer agent can be allowed toact on tumor cells in a short time and efficiently. Further, since theanti-cancer agent can be administered in a relatively small amount onlyat a necessary place, the burden on the patient can be reduced.

In the reducing of the influence of blood in the artery on thenear-infrared ray, a saline solution may be injected into the arterythrough the catheter to flush the blood in the artery. Thereby, thenear-infrared ray emitted from an optical fiber becomes relativelydifficult to receive the influence of blood. For this reason, the firstnear-infrared ray can rather effectively reach at least one of thetumor, the vicinity of the tumor, or the regional lymph node. Further,the second near-infrared ray can rather effectively reach theantibody-photosensitive substance bound to the tumor cell membrane.

The saline solution may be injected into the artery passing between alumen of the catheter and the optical fiber. Thereby, the salinesolution can be injected into the artery using the catheter in which theoptical fiber is inserted without using another device.

In the reducing of the influence of blood in the artery on thenear-infrared ray, a balloon disposed in the catheter may be inflated toblock a blood flow in the artery. Thereby, the near-infrared ray emittedfrom an optical fiber becomes rather difficult to receive the influenceof blood. For this reason, the first near-infrared ray can effectivelyreach at least one of the tumor, the vicinity of the tumor, or theregional lymph node. Further, the second near-infrared ray caneffectively reach the antibody-photosensitive substance bound to thetumor cell membrane.

According to still another aspect of the present disclosure, a treatmentmethod is disclosed for killing a tumor cell, the method includinginserting an endoscope from a mouth, a nose, or an anus and bringing theendoscope to a vicinity of a tumor reachable from the mouth, the nose,or the anus, protruding a tubular elongated tube in which a lumen isformed from the endoscope, bringing the elongated tube into contact withthe tumor having the tumor cell or puncturing the tumor with theelongated tube while checking a camera image and/or an ultrasound imageobtained by the endoscope, bringing an optical fiber inserted into thelumen of the elongated tube into the tumor or the vicinity of the tumor,administering an antibody-photosensitive substance into a vein beforethe bringing of the endoscope to the vicinity of the tumor oradministering the antibody-photosensitive substance into the tumor orthe vicinity of the tumor from the elongated tube after the bringing ofthe elongated tube into contact with the tumor or puncturing with theelongated tube, irradiating at least one of the tumor, the vicinity ofthe tumor, or a regional lymph node with a first near-infrared ray bythe optical fiber, and irradiating an antibody-photosensitive substancebound to a tumor cell membrane in the tumor cell with a secondnear-infrared ray having a shorter wavelength than that of the firstnear-infrared ray.

With the treatment method having the above-described configuration, itis possible to effectively irradiate at least one of the tumor, thevicinity of the tumor, or the regional lymph node with the firstnear-infrared ray from the optical fiber disposed inside the tumor orthe vicinity of the tumor through the endoscope. For this reason,antigen-presenting cells can be gathered at the irradiation target site.Further, as a method of damaging tumor cells, the optical fiber insertedinto the tumor or in the vicinity of the tumor can rather effectivelyirradiate the antibody-photosensitive substance bound to the tumor cellswith the second near-infrared ray. Therefore, the photosensitivesubstance of the antibody-photosensitive substance can cause a chemicalreaction and kill the tumor cells. Thereby, when antigen-presentingcells are gathered in the tumor, the antigen is released from the tumorcells, and antigen presentation is performed by more antigen-presentingcells, leading to subsequent T cell activation. As a result, the presenttreatment method can help improve or recover the attack capability ofimmunity against cancer. Further, since it is not necessary toadminister an adjuvant to activate the antigen-presenting cells, theburden on the patient can be reduced.

According to still another aspect of the present disclosure, a treatmentmethod is disclosed for killing a tumor cell, the method includingpuncturing a tumor having the tumor cell or a vicinity of the tumorpercutaneously with a hollow needle while acquiring and checking anultrasound image percutaneously, bringing an optical fiber inserted intoa lumen of the needle into the tumor or the vicinity of the tumor,administering an antibody-photosensitive substance into a vein beforethe bringing of the needle to the vicinity of the tumor or administeringthe antibody-photosensitive substance into the tumor or the vicinity ofthe tumor from the needle after the bringing of the needle to thevicinity of the tumor, irradiating at least one of the tumor, thevicinity of the tumor, or a regional lymph node with a firstnear-infrared ray by the optical fiber, and irradiating anantibody-photosensitive substance bound to a tumor cell membrane in thetumor cell with a second near-infrared ray having a shorter wavelengththan that of the first near-infrared ray.

With the treatment method having the above-described configuration, itis possible to rather effectively irradiate at least one of the tumor,the vicinity of the tumor, or the regional lymph node with the firstnear-infrared ray by the optical fiber disposed inside the tumor or thevicinity of the tumor via the needle. For this reason,antigen-presenting cells can be gathered at the irradiation target site.Further, as a method of damaging tumor cells, the optical fiber insertedinto the tumor or in the vicinity of the tumor can rather effectivelyirradiate the antibody-photosensitive substance bound to the tumor cellswith the second near-infrared ray. As a result, the photosensitivesubstance of the antibody-photosensitive substance can cause a chemicalreaction and kill the tumor cells. As a result, when antigen-presentingcells are gathered in the tumor, the antigen is released from the tumorcells, and antigen presentation is performed by more antigen-presentingcells, leading to subsequent T cell activation. As a result, the presenttreatment method can help improve or recover the attack capability ofimmunity against cancer. Further, since it is not necessary toadminister an adjuvant to activate the antigen-presenting cells, therelative burden on the patient can be reduced.

In the irradiating with the first near-infrared ray and/or theirradiating with the second near-infrared ray, the needle may have alight-transmitting portion capable of transmitting a near-infrared rayat a distal end, and the near-infrared ray may be emitted from theoptical fiber located inside the needle through the light-transmittingportion. Thereby, the near-infrared rays emitted from the optical fibercan reach a wide range of the irradiation target site without beingobstructed by the elongated tube.

In the irradiating with the first near-infrared ray and/or theirradiating with the second near-infrared ray, the needle may have aslit through which a near-infrared ray can be emitted at a distal end,and the near-infrared ray may be emitted from the optical fiber locatedinside the needle through the slit. Thereby, the near-infrared raysemitted from the optical fiber are not rather easily obstructed by theelongated tube and can reach a wide range of the irradiation targetsite.

According to still another aspect of the present disclosure, a treatmentmethod is disclosed, which includes inserting an endoscope from a mouth,a nose, or an anus and bringing the endoscope to a vicinity of a tumorreachable from the mouth, the nose, or the anus, protruding a tubularelongated tube in which a lumen is formed from the endoscope, bringingthe elongated tube into contact with the tumor or puncturing the tumorwith the elongated tube while checking a camera image and/or anultrasound image obtained by the endoscope, bringing an optical fiberinserted into the lumen of the elongated tube into the tumor or thevicinity of the tumor, irradiating at least one of the tumor, thevicinity of the tumor, or a regional lymph node with a firstnear-infrared ray by the optical fiber, and administering an anti-canceragent into a vein or administering the anti-cancer agent into the tumoror the vicinity of the tumor from the elongated tube.

With the treatment method having the above-described configuration, itis possible to relatively effectively irradiate at least one of thetumor, the vicinity of the tumor, or the regional lymph node with thefirst near-infrared ray by the optical fiber disposed inside the tumoror the vicinity of the tumor through the endoscope. For this reason,antigen-presenting cells can be gathered at the irradiation target site.Further, in the present treatment method, anti-cancer agents can damagetumor cells and release the antigen, so that more antigen-presentingcells will present the antigen when the antigen is released. As aresult, the present treatment method can help improve or recover theattack capability of immunity against cancer. Therefore, the presenttreatment method can enhance the effect of killing a tumor cell.Further, since there is no need to administer an adjuvant in order toactivate the antigen-presenting cells, side effects of the adjuvant canbe avoided and the relative burden on the patient can be reduced. Whenthe anti-cancer agent is locally administered, the anti-cancer agent canbe allowed to act on tumor cells in a rather short time and efficiently.Further, since the anti-cancer agent can be administered in a smallamount only at a necessary place, the burden on the patient can bereduced.

According to still another aspect of the present disclosure, a treatmentmethod is disclosed for killing a tumor cell, the method includingpuncturing a tumor having the tumor cell or a vicinity of the tumorpercutaneously with a hollow needle while acquiring and checking anultrasound image percutaneously, bringing an optical fiber inserted intoa lumen of the needle into the tumor or the vicinity of the tumor,irradiating at least one of the tumor, the vicinity of the tumor, or aregional lymph node with a first near-infrared ray by the optical fiber,and administering an anti-cancer agent into a vein or administering theanti-cancer agent into the tumor or the vicinity of the tumor from theneedle.

With the treatment method having the above-described configuration, itis possible to rather effectively irradiate at least one of the tumor,the vicinity of the tumor, or the regional lymph node with the firstnear-infrared ray by the optical fiber disposed inside the tumor or thevicinity of the tumor via the needle. For this reason, moreantigen-presenting cells can be gathered at the irradiation target site.Further, in the present treatment method, in order to administeranti-cancer agents intravenously or locally, anti-cancer agents candamage tumor cells and release the antigen, so that moreantigen-presenting cells will present the antigen when the antigen isreleased, leading to subsequent T cell activation. As a result, thepresent treatment method can help improve or recover the attackcapability of immunity against cancer. Therefore, the present treatmentmethod can enhance the effect of killing a tumor cell. Further, sincethere is no need to administer an adjuvant in order to activate theantigen-presenting cells, side effects of the adjuvant can be avoidedand the relative burden on the patient can be reduced. When theanti-cancer agent is locally administered, the anti-cancer agent can beallowed to act on tumor cells in a short time and efficiently. Further,since the anti-cancer agent can be administered in a relatively smallamount only at a necessary place, the relative burden on the patient canbe reduced.

In the irradiating with the first near-infrared ray, the needle may havea light-transmitting portion capable of transmitting a near-infrared rayat a distal portion, and the first near-infrared ray may be emitted fromthe optical fiber located inside the needle through thelight-transmitting portion. Thereby, the first near-infrared ray emittedfrom the optical fiber can reach a wide range of the irradiation targetsite without being obstructed by the needle.

In the irradiating with the first near-infrared ray, the needle may havea slit through which a near-infrared ray can be emitted at a distalportion, and the first near-infrared ray may be emitted from the opticalfiber located inside the needle through the slit. Thereby, the firstnear-infrared ray emitted from the optical fiber can reach a relativelywide range of the irradiation target site without being obstructed bythe needle.

In accordance with another aspect, a treatment method is disclosed forkilling a tumor cell, the method comprising: administering anantibody-photosensitive substance into a vein; inserting an endoscopefrom a mouth, a nose, or an anus and bringing the endoscope to avicinity of a tumor having the tumor cell reachable from the mouth, thenose, or the anus after the administering of the antibody-photosensitivesubstance into the vein; placing an optical fiber into the tumor or inthe vicinity of the tumor; irradiating at least one of the tumor, thevicinity of the tumor, or a regional lymph node with a firstnear-infrared ray by the optical fiber; and irradiating theantibody-photosensitive substance bound to a tumor cell membrane in thetumor cell with a second near-infrared ray after the irradiating of theat least one of the tumor, the vicinity of the tumor, or the regionallymph node with the first near-infrared ray, the second near-infraredray having a shorter wavelength than that of the first near-infraredray.

In accordance with a further aspect, a treatment method is disclosed forkilling a tumor cell, the method comprising: administering anantibody-photosensitive substance into a vein; inserting an elongatedtube in a lumen of an endoscope from a mouth, a nose, or an anus andbringing the elongated tube and the endoscope to a vicinity of a tumorhaving the tumor cell reachable from the mouth, the nose, or the anusafter the administering of the antibody-photosensitive substance intothe vein; placing an optical fiber into the tumor or in the vicinity ofthe tumor via a lumen of the elongated tube; irradiating at least one ofthe tumor, the vicinity of the tumor, or a regional lymph node with afirst near-infrared ray by the optical fiber; and irradiating theantibody-photosensitive substance bound to a tumor cell membrane in thetumor cell with a second near-infrared ray after the irradiating of theat least one of the tumor, the vicinity of the tumor, or the regionallymph node with the first near-infrared ray, the second near-infraredray having a shorter wavelength than that of the first near-infraredray.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a treatment system used in a treatmentmethod according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a schematic view showing a state inside a body when treatingliver cancer by the treatment method according to the first embodiment.

FIGS. 3A and 3B are cross-sectional views showing a treatment systemwhen the liver cancer is treated, where FIG. 3A shows a case when anear-infrared ray is emitted in a distal end direction, and FIG. 3Bshows a case when a near-infrared ray is emitted in a directionorthogonal to an optical fiber.

FIGS. 4A and 4B are cross-sectional views showing the treatment systemwhen the liver cancer is treated using a balloon catheter, where FIG. 4Ashows a case when a near-infrared ray is emitted in a distal enddirection, and FIG. 4B shows a case when a near-infrared ray is emittedin a direction orthogonal to an optical fiber.

FIG. 5 is a plan view showing a treatment system used in a treatmentmethod according to a third embodiment.

FIGS. 6A and 6B are plan views showing a modification example of thetreatment system, where FIG. 6A shows a modification example of anelongated tube, and FIG. 6B shows another modification example of theelongated tube.

FIG. 7 is a schematic view showing a state inside a body when treatingstomach cancer by the treatment method according to the thirdembodiment.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing the treatment system whentreating stomach cancer.

FIGS. 9A and 9B are cross-sectional views showing when the stomachcancer is treated using an elongated tube according to a modificationexample, where FIG. 9A shows a state when puncturing an outer needleinto a tumor, and FIG. 9B shows a state when puncturing an inner needleinto a tumor.

FIG. 10 is a plan view showing a treatment system used in a treatmentmethod according to a fifth embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a schematic view showing a state inside a body when treatingbreast cancer by the treatment method according to the fifth embodiment.

FIGS. 12A and 12B are cross-sectional views showing when the breastcancer is treated using the treatment system, where FIG. 12A shows astate when puncturing an outer needle into a tumor, and FIG. 12B shows astate when puncturing an inner needle into a tumor.

FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view showing when treating with a treatmentmethod according to a seventh embodiment.

FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view showing when treating with a treatmentmethod according to an eighth embodiment.

FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view showing when treating with a treatmentmethod according to a ninth embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments of the present disclosure will be described below withreference to the drawings. Note that, the dimensions of the drawings areexaggerated for convenience of explanation and may differ from theactual dimensions. Further, in the present specification and drawings,components having substantially the same functional configuration aredenoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description isomitted. In the present specification, the side of a device that isinserted into a biological lumen is referred to as the “distal side” or“distal end”, and the hand-side that is operated is referred to as the“proximal side” or “proximal end”.

First Embodiment

The treatment method according to a first embodiment is a therapy thateffectively combines a photolaser adjuvant and photoimmunotherapy, andis a therapy that can promote the cancer immunity cycle in a favorableturn and improve or recover the attack capability of immunity againstcancer. In the treatment method according to the present embodiment,antigen-presenting cells can be gathered around the tumor by irradiationwith a near-infrared ray, for example, having a wavelength of about 1064nm. Photoimmunotherapy is a therapy that kills target cells bytransvascularly irradiating the antibody-photosensitive substance boundto the cell membrane of the target cell with a near-infrared ray. Thetarget cell can be a tumor cell such as a cancer cell. In this treatmentmethod, an antibody-photosensitive substance obtained by binding anantibody that specifically binds only to a specific antigen on thesurface of a tumor cell and a photosensitive substance that is pairedwith the antibody is used as a drug. The antibody is not particularlylimited, and examples of the antibody can include panitumumab,trastuzumab, HuJ591, and the like. The photosensitive substance can be,for example hydrophilic phthalocyanine, which is a substance (IR700)that reacts with a near-infrared ray having a wavelength of around 700nm, but the photosensitive substance is not limited to hydrophilicphthalocyanine. IR700 absorbs light when it receives near-infrared rayshaving, for example, a wavelength of about 660 nm to 740 nm, generates achemical change, and generates heat to kill tumor cells. The treatmentmethod according to the first embodiment can be suitable for cancertreatment of organs that are difficult to be irradiated with anear-infrared ray from the body surface because they are separated fromthe body surface, for example. The treatment method according to thefirst embodiment can be suitably used for the treatment of, for example,liver cancer and lung cancer.

In the treatment method according to the first embodiment, as shown inFIG. 1, a treatment system 10 that can be inserted into a blood vesselis used for transvascularly irradiating at least one of the tumor, thevicinity of the tumor, or a regional lymph node with a near-infraredray. First, the treatment system 10 will be described.

The treatment system 10 can include a guide wire 20, a catheter 30, alight irradiation device 40 that can be inserted into the catheter 30,and a measurement device 50 that can be inserted into the catheter 30.

The guide wire 20 can be a relatively long wire for guiding the catheter30 to a target position in the living body. The catheter 30 is amicro-catheter, for example, and has a lumen 31 penetrating from thedistal end to the proximal end. A micro-catheter is a relatively thincatheter that can be inserted into a peripheral blood vessel of an organto be treated. The diameter of the micro-catheter can be, for example,about 0.5 mm to 1.0 mm. Note that, the catheter 30 may be a catheter 30thicker than a micro-catheter depending on the place to be treated.Further, as shown in FIG. 4, the catheter 30 may be a balloon catheter30 including an inflatable balloon 32 at the distal portion. The ballooncatheter 30 has a second lumen 33 for supplying a fluid for inflation tothe balloon 32.

The light irradiation device 40 includes an optical fiber 41 and a lightoutput unit 42 that supplies near-infrared rays to the optical fiber 41,as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3A. The light output unit 42 can output anear-infrared ray having any wavelength to the optical fiber 41 with anydose. In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, the light output unit42 can selectively output a first near-infrared ray for the photolaseradjuvant and a second near-infrared ray for the photoimmunotherapy tothe optical fiber 41. The wavelength of the first near-infrared ray forthe photolaser adjuvant is longer than the second near-infrared ray forphotoimmunotherapy. The light output unit 42 may be capable ofoutputting both the first near-infrared ray and the second near-infraredray simultaneously. The light output unit 42 can perform output to theoptical fiber 41 so that the first near-infrared ray having, forexample, a wavelength of about 1064 nm can be emitted. Further, thelight output unit 42 outputs to the optical fiber 41 so that the secondnear-infrared ray can be emitted at a wavelength of 660 nm to 740 nm,for example, with a dose of 1 Jcm⁻² to 50 Jcm⁻². The optical fiber 41that outputs near-infrared rays may be composed of a single fiber or maybe composed of a plurality of bundled fibers. The optical fiber 41 ispreferably attachable and detachable to and from the light output unit42 but is not limited to being attachable and detachable to and from thelight output unit 42. An irradiation unit 43 for irradiating with lightis provided at the distal end of the optical fiber 41. An orientationmarker 44 is provided at the distal portion of the optical fiber 41.

The irradiation unit 43 emits light that entered from the proximal sideof the optical fiber 41 to the outside. The irradiation unit 43 can beconfigured by, for example, a lens, a diffuser, a mirror, and the like.The irradiation unit 43 is appropriately designed so as to emit anear-infrared ray at a predetermined irradiation angle in apredetermined direction using a lens, a diffuser, a mirror, or the like.Note that, the structure of the irradiation unit 43 is not limited aslong as it can emit light to the outside. For example, as shown in FIG.3A, the irradiation unit 43 emits a near-infrared ray at a predeterminedirradiation angle in the distal end direction. Note that, theirradiation direction (the direction in which the center of theirradiation angle is located) is not particularly limited. For example,the irradiation unit 43 may emit the near-infrared ray in a directionsubstantially orthogonal to the optical fiber 41 as shown in FIG. 3B.

The orientation marker 44 is a site for an operator to check a positionin the body. The orientation marker 44 is formed of, for example, aradiopaque material. The radiopaque material is, for example, a metalmaterial such as a metal such as gold, platinum, tungsten, or an alloycontaining these metallic materials. Thereby, the operator can check theposition of the orientation marker 44 under X-ray contrast outside thebody. Note that, the orientation marker 44 may not be an X-ray contrastmarker as long as the operator can check the position in the body.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3A, the measurement device 50 is a device thatmonitors in real time that a tumor C having target cells can beirradiated with a near-infrared ray. The measurement device 50 is, forexample, a temperature measurement device that can measure thetemperature of the tumor C in a non-contact manner or in a contactmanner. The measurement device 50 includes, for example, an opticalfiber for measurement 51, an optical measurement unit 52 that receiveslight detected by the optical fiber for measurement 51, and ameasurement marker 53 that is positioned at the distal portion of theoptical fiber for measurement 51. The optical fiber for measurement 51receives an infrared ray emitted from an object whose temperature hasrisen at the distal portion and transmits the infrared ray to theoptical measurement unit 52. The optical measurement unit 52 can detectthe temperature of the object in a non-contact manner from the measuredsecond infrared ray dose or the like.

Note that, the optical fiber for measurement 51 may be shared with theoptical fiber 41 of the light irradiation device 40. That is, thetemperature of the tumor C may be measured using the optical fiber 41 ofthe light irradiation device 40.

The measurement device 50 is not limited to the temperature measurementdevice using the optical fiber 41 as long as it is possible to monitorthat the tumor cell to which the antibody-photosensitive substance isbound is irradiated with the second near-infrared ray. For example, acontact-type temperature measurement device using a thermocouple or ahardness measurement device 50 using ultrasound waves may be used. Whenthe measurement device 50 is a hardness measurement device 50 usingultrasound waves, an ultrasound probe is provided at the distal portionof an elongated tubular body that can be inserted into the catheter 30.The hardness measurement device 50 transmits an ultrasound wave to theoutside by a probe and receives a reflected wave of the ultrasound waveto calculate a tomographic image of the tissue. The hardness measurementdevice 50 can detect a change in the hardness of the tumor C includingdead tumor cells from the change in the luminance of the tomographicimage. Alternatively, the measurement device 50 may be a sensor that candetect an elastic change of a tumor C including dead tumor cells and achange in blood flow.

Next, the treatment method according to the first embodiment will bedescribed taking the case of treating liver cancer as an example. Notethat, this description is not intended to limit the organs to betreated.

First, an antibody-photosensitive substance is administeredintravenously. For example, after about 12 hours to 36 hours fromintravenous administration, the operator inserts the guide wire 20 intothe blood vessel from the femoral artery, brachial artery, radialartery, and the like, as shown in FIG. 2. Next, the proximal end of theguide wire 20 is inserted into the lumen 31 of the catheter 30, and thecatheter 30 is inserted into the blood vessel along the guide wire 20.Next, the catheter 30 is inserted into the hepatic artery, which is themain artery (for example, nutrient artery) of the liver in which thetumor C is formed, with the guide wire 20 in advance. Thereafter, theoperator removes the guide wire 20 from the catheter 30. Note that, inthe treatment of lung cancer, the main artery of the lung is thebronchial artery.

Next, the operator inserts the optical fiber 41 into the lumen 31 fromthe proximal side of the catheter 30. As shown in FIG. 3A, the distalportion of the optical fiber 41 protrudes from the catheter 30 towardthe distal side. Next, the operator causes the position of theorientation marker 44 of the optical fiber 41 to reach the targetposition while checking the position of the orientation marker 44 of theoptical fiber 41 under X-ray contrast. The target position is a positionclose to the tumor C and capable of irradiating at least one of thetumor C, the vicinity of the tumor, or the regional lymph node with thefirst near-infrared ray. A regional lymph node is a group of lymph nodesthat have a lymphatic tract directly connected to the primary lesion.

Next, the operator inserts the optical fiber for measurement 51 into thelumen 31 from the proximal side of the catheter 30. The distal portionof the optical fiber for measurement 51 protrudes from the catheter 30toward the distal side. Next, the operator causes the position of themeasurement marker 53 of the optical fiber for measurement 51 to reachthe target position while checking the position of the measurementmarker 53 of the optical fiber for measurement 51 under X-ray contrast.The target position is a position close to the tumor C where the cancercell is present and the temperature of the tumor C can be measured. Theoptical fiber for measurement 51 is preferably disposed at a positionwhere the emission of the near-infrared ray from the optical fiber 41 isnot obstructed.

Next, the operator supplies the saline solution to the lumen 31 from theproximal side of the catheter 30. At this time, for example, theoperator connects the Y connector to the hub located at the proximalportion of the catheter 30, and supplies the saline solution from a portdifferent from the port from which the guide wire 20 is led out. Thesaline solution flows into the hepatic artery through a gap in the lumen31 in which the optical fiber 41 and the optical fiber for measurement51 are inserted. Thereby, the saline solution is injected (flushed) fromthe catheter 30 to the hepatic artery. For this reason, blood in thehepatic artery where the optical fiber 41 and the optical fiber formeasurement 51 are located is pushed away, and the hepatic artery istemporarily filled with the saline solution. The saline solution isinjected into the artery through the lumen 31 of the catheter 30 and theoptical fiber 41. Thereby, the saline solution can be injected into thehepatic artery using the catheter 30 in which the optical fiber 41 isinserted without using another device.

As shown in FIG. 4A, when the catheter 30 has the balloon 32, theballoon 32 may be inflated before, during, or after flushing the salinesolution. Thereby, the blood flow in the hepatic artery is blocked andthe hepatic artery is temporarily filled with the saline solution. Forthis reason, the hepatic artery can be more reliably filled with thesaline solution. Note that, the operator may inflate the balloon 32without flushing the saline solution.

In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, after filling the hepaticartery with the saline solution or blocking the blood flow in thehepatic artery, the operator may observe the hepatic artery with theoptical fiber 41 or the optical fiber for measurement 51. Thereby, theoperator can accurately check that the hepatic artery is filled with thesaline solution and/or that the blood flow in the hepatic artery isblocked. Note that, observation of blood in the hepatic artery using theoptical fiber 41 or the optical fiber for measurement 51 may not beperformed.

Next, as shown in FIG. 3A or 4A, at least one of the tumor C, thevicinity of the tumor, or the regional lymph node is irradiated with thefirst near-infrared ray from the optical fiber 41. At this time, sincethe hepatic artery is filled with the saline solution and/or the bloodflow in the hepatic artery is blocked, the irradiation with the firstnear-infrared ray is hardly affected by blood. For this reason, thefirst near-infrared ray can effectively reach at least one of the tumorC, the vicinity of the tumor, or the regional lymph node. Whenirradiating with the first near-infrared ray from the optical fiber 41,the first near-infrared ray is directly emitted from the optical fiber41 to the biological tissue. That is, for example, the firstnear-infrared ray is not indirectly emitted from the inside of theballoon through the balloon. For this reason, the target place can beeffectively irradiated with the first near-infrared ray.

The irradiation direction of the first near-infrared ray from theoptical fiber 41 is the distal end direction of the optical fiber 41.Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 3B or 4B, the irradiation direction ofthe first near-infrared ray may be a direction orthogonal to the axialdirection of the optical fiber 41. The operator can appropriately selectthe optical fiber 41 to be used according to at least one position ofthe tumor C that is an irradiation target site for the blood vessel intowhich the optical fiber 41 is inserted, the vicinity of the tumor, orthe regional lymph node.

When the irradiation target site that is at least one of the tumor C,the vicinity of the tumor, or the regional lymph node is irradiated withthe first near-infrared ray, more antigen-presenting cells can begathered in the irradiation target site. For this reason, when the tumorcells are damaged and the antigens are released, more antigen-presentingcells will present the antigen, leading to subsequent T cell activation.As a result, the attack capability of immunity against cancer can beimproved or recovered. The operator stops the irradiation with the firstnear-infrared ray by the optical measurement unit 52 after apredetermined time has elapsed since the start of the irradiation withthe first near-infrared ray. The optical measurement unit 52 may have anirradiation time of the second near-infrared ray set in advance. Theirradiation time of the first near-infrared ray is not particularlylimited, but can be, for example, 2 minutes to 15 minutes.

Next, the temperature of the tumor C is measured by the optical fiberfor measurement 51 while irradiating the tumor C or the vicinity of thetumor C with the second near-infrared ray from the optical fiber 41. Theoperator may change the direction and position of the optical fiber 41before emitting the second near-infrared ray. This is because the sitewhere the irradiation with the first near-infrared ray is effective andthe site where the irradiation with the second near-infrared ray iseffective may be different. In accordance with an exemplary embodiment,the irradiation with the second near-infrared ray can start 12 hours to36 hours after intravenous administration. The start of the irradiationwith the second near-infrared ray is not particularly limited, but canbe started, for example, after 1 minutes to 60 minutes have elapsed fromthe end of the irradiation with the first near-infrared ray. Theoperator may inject the saline solution again from the catheter 30 intothe hepatic artery before emitting the second near-infrared ray from theoptical fiber 41.

The operator can monitor that the tumor cell to which theantibody-photosensitive substance is bound is irradiated with the secondnear-infrared ray by continuing the temperature measurement of the tumorC. At this time, since the hepatic artery is filled with the salinesolution and/or the blood flow in the hepatic artery is blocked, theirradiation with the second near-infrared ray and temperaturemeasurement are hardly affected by blood. For this reason, the secondnear-infrared ray can effectively reach the antibody-photosensitivesubstance bound to the tumor cell membrane. Therefore, the irradiationwith the second near-infrared ray and temperature measurement can beperformed rather effectively. When irradiating with the secondnear-infrared ray from the optical fiber 41, the second near-infraredray is directly emitted from the optical fiber 41 to the biologicaltissue. That is, the second near-infrared ray is not indirectly emittedfrom the inside of the balloon through the balloon, for example. Forthis reason, the tumor cell to which the antibody-photosensitivesubstance is bound can be effectively irradiated with the secondnear-infrared ray.

The irradiation direction of the second near-infrared ray from theoptical fiber 41 is the distal end direction of the optical fiber 41.Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 3B or 4B, the second near-infrared raymay be in a direction orthogonal to the axial direction of the opticalfiber 41. The operator can appropriately select the optical fiber 41 tobe used according to the position of the tumor C or the vicinity of thetumor C with respect to the blood vessel into which the optical fiber 41is inserted. Note that, the optical fiber 41 that emits the firstnear-infrared ray and the optical fiber 41 that emits the secondnear-infrared ray are not the same and may be different.

The operator continues the irradiation with the second near-infrared raywhile checking the death of the tumor cells by the irradiation with thesecond near-infrared ray based on the temperature of the tumor Cmonitored by the measurement device 50. The operator may adjust theirradiation direction and position by operating the optical fiber 41 athand during emission of the second near-infrared ray.

When it is determined that the tumor cells have been sufficientlykilled, when it is determined that further irradiation is not desirable,or when a predetermined time has elapsed, the operator stops theirradiation with the second near-infrared ray and stops monitoring bythe measurement device 50. In order to make the determination that thetumor cells have been sufficiently killed easier, a temperaturethreshold value that is a condition for stopping the irradiation may beset in advance. When the temperature of the tumor C to be measuredexceeds the threshold value, the operator can rather easily determinethe stop of the irradiation with the second near-infrared ray. Thethreshold value may be set in the optical measurement unit 52. Thereby,the optical measurement unit 52 can give a notice to the operator viathe monitor, the speaker, or the like when the temperature of the tumorC to be measured exceeds the threshold value. Note that, the conditionfor stopping the irradiation with the second near-infrared ray may notbe the temperature of the tumor C exceeding the threshold value, but thewidth (volume or area) of the tumor C exceeding the threshold value.Alternatively, the optical measurement unit 52 may have an irradiationtime of the second near-infrared ray set in advance.

Next, the operator specifies the position of the tumor C that has beenirradiated with the second near-infrared ray, and records the positionof the tumor C in the record as electronic data. The position of thetumor C is preferably recorded as electronic data so as to correspond tothe position information of data such as CT image and MRI image of thepatient acquired in advance. Thereby, the subsequent procedure can beadvanced smoothly, and postoperative follow-up can be effectivelyperformed. For example, when irradiating a plurality of tumors C withthe near-infrared ray, the tumor C that has been irradiated with thenear-infrared ray can be accurately identified, so that the irradiationof all tumors C can be performed relatively smoothly and reliably. Next,the operator removes the catheter 30 together with the optical fiber 41and the measurement device 50 from the skin.

The monitoring of the irradiation with the second near-infrared ray maybe performed using, instead of the optical fiber 51 for measurement, theoptical fiber 41 for near-infrared ray irradiation, a temperaturemeasurement device having a thermocouple, or a hardness measurementdevice using ultrasound waves. Further, the monitoring of theirradiation with the second near-infrared ray may be performed by asensor located outside the body or a sensor inserted in a lumen in aliving body.

As described above, the treatment method according to the firstembodiment is a treatment method for killing a tumor cell, the methodincluding inserting the catheter 30 into the main artery of an organhaving the tumor cell, administering the antibody-photosensitivesubstance into a vein before the insertion of the catheter 30, insertingthe optical fiber 41 into the catheter 30, reducing an influence ofblood in the artery on the near-infrared ray, irradiating at least oneof the tumor C having the tumor cell, the vicinity of the tumor C, orthe regional lymph node with the first near-infrared ray by the opticalfiber 41, and irradiating the antibody-photosensitive substance bound toa tumor cell membrane in the tumor cell with the second near-infraredray having a shorter wavelength than that of the first near-infraredray.

With the treatment method having the above-described configuration, itis possible to effectively irradiate at least one of the tumor C, thevicinity of the tumor C, or a regional lymph node with the firstnear-infrared ray by the optical fiber 41 inserted into an artery nearthe tumor C through the catheter 30. For this reason, since moreantigen-presenting cells can be gathered at the irradiation target site,more antigen-presenting cells present the antigen when the tumor cellsare damaged and the antigen is released, leading to T cell activation.As a result, the present treatment method can improve or recover attackcapability of immunity against cancer. Further, the second optical fiber41 inserted into the artery close to the tumor C can irradiate theantibody-photosensitive substance bound to the tumor cell with thesecond near-infrared ray. For this reason, the photosensitive substanceof the antibody-photosensitive substance generates a chemical reactionand can enhance the effect of killing tumor cells. Further, since thereis no need to administer an adjuvant in order to activate theantigen-presenting cells, it is possible to reduce the relative burdenon a patient such as side effects due to the adjuvant.

Second Embodiment

Similar to the treatment method according to the first embodiment, thetreatment method according to a second embodiment is applied to cancertreatment of an organ that can be reached transvascularly. The treatmentmethod according to the second embodiment can be suitably used, forexample, for the treatment of liver cancer, lung cancer, and the like.Note that, the treatment method according to the second embodiment isdifferent from the first embodiment in that the antibody-photosensitivesubstance is not administered intravenously but locally to the nutrientblood vessel of the organ where the tumor C is formed. Note that, thetreatment system is the same as the treatment system 10 used in thetreatment method according to the first embodiment.

In the treatment method according to the second embodiment, the operatorinserts the catheter 30 into the hepatic artery while leading the guidewire 20 from, for example, the femoral artery, brachial artery, radialartery, and the like without intravenous administration of theantibody-photosensitive substance. Next, the operator removes the guidewire 20 from the catheter 30. Next, the operator locally administers theantibody-photosensitive substance from the proximal side of the catheter30 into the hepatic artery via the lumen 31. Note that, in the case oftreatment of lung cancer, an antibody-photosensitive substance islocally administered to the bronchial artery, which is the nutrientartery of the lung to be treated.

After local administration of the antibody-photosensitive substance tothe hepatic artery, the operator waits until the antibody-photosensitivesubstance binds to the target cell membrane. When anantibody-photosensitive substance is locally administered to thenutrient artery of the organ where the tumor C to be treated is present,the time until the antibody-photosensitive substance binds to the targetcell membrane is much shorter than that for intravenous administration,and is considered to be, for example, about 5 minutes to 10 minutes.

Next, the operator inserts the optical fiber 41 into the lumen 31 fromthe proximal side of the catheter 30. Thereafter, similarly to thetreatment method according to the first embodiment, the first infraredray and the second infrared ray are emitted using the optical fiber 41.Note that, since the subsequent procedure is the same as the treatmentmethod according to the first embodiment, the description of subsequentprocedure is omitted. The irradiation with the second near-infrared rayis started, for example, about 5 minutes to 10 minutes after the localadministration of the antibody-photosensitive substance. The irradiationwith the second near-infrared ray may not be started after about 5minutes to 10 minutes.

As described above, the treatment method according to the secondembodiment is a treatment method for killing a tumor cell, the methodincluding inserting the catheter 30 into the main artery of an organhaving the tumor cell, administering the antibody-photosensitivesubstance into an artery from the catheter 30 after the insertion of thecatheter 30, inserting the optical fiber 41 into the catheter 30,reducing an influence of blood in the artery on the near-infrared ray,irradiating at least one of the tumor C having the tumor cell, thevicinity of the tumor C, or the regional lymph node with the firstnear-infrared ray by the optical fiber 41, and irradiating theantibody-photosensitive substance bound to a tumor cell membrane in thetumor cell with the second near-infrared ray having a shorter wavelengththan that of the first near-infrared ray.

With the treatment method having the above-described configuration, itis possible to effectively irradiate at least one of the tumor C, thevicinity of the tumor C, or a regional lymph node with the firstnear-infrared ray from the optical fiber 41 inserted into an artery nearthe tumor C through the catheter 30. For this reason, moreantigen-presenting cells can be gathered at the irradiation target site.Further, as a method of damaging tumor cells, the optical fiber 41inserted into the artery close to the tumor C can irradiate theantibody-photosensitive substance bound to the tumor cell with thesecond near-infrared ray. Thereby, the photosensitive substance of theantibody-photosensitive substance can cause a chemical reaction anddamage the tumor cells. Therefore, when antigens are released fromdamaged tumor cells, the antigens are efficiently presented by a largernumber of antigen-presenting cells, leading to T cell activation. As aresult, the present treatment method can improve or recover attackcapability of immunity against cancer. Further, since it is notnecessary to administer an adjuvant to activate the antigen-presentingcells, it is possible to reduce the relative burden on the patient suchas side effects of the adjuvant. Furthermore, since theantibody-photosensitive substance is locally administered, theantibody-photosensitive substance can act on tumor cells in a relativelyshort time and rather efficiently. In addition, since theantibody-photosensitive substance can be administered in a small amountonly at a necessary place, the relative burden on the patient can bereduced.

Third Embodiment

The treatment method according to a third embodiment is applied tocancer treatment of organs that can be reached from the mouth, nose, oranus using an endoscope. The treatment method according to the thirdembodiment can be suitably used for the treatment of, for example,pancreatic cancer, lung cancer, stomach cancer, duodenal cancer,esophageal cancer, colon cancer, and the like.

In the treatment method according to the third embodiment, as shown inFIG. 5, a treatment system 60 that can be inserted from the mouth, nose,or anus is used to emit the first near-infrared ray and the secondnear-infrared ray. First, the treatment system 60 will be described.

The treatment system 60 includes an endoscope 70, an elongated tube 80that can be inserted into the endoscope 70, the light irradiation device40 that can be inserted into the elongated tube 80, and the measurementdevice 50 that can be inserted into the elongated tube 80.

The endoscope 70 can be inserted from the mouth, nose, or anus, and acamera 71 capable of acquiring an image and an ultrasound imaging device72 are disposed at the distal portion.

The endoscope 70 can acquire an image with the camera 71 in real time.Further, the endoscope 70 can acquire an ultrasound image in real timeby the ultrasound imaging device 72. The endoscope 70 can acquire atleast one of a camera image and an ultrasound image.

The elongated tube 80 has a sharp needle tip 81 formed at the distalend. The elongated tube 80 is hollow, and a lumen 82 penetrating fromthe needle at the distal end to the proximal end is formed.

As in the first embodiment, the measurement device 50 is a temperaturemeasurement device using the optical fiber 41 that irradiatesnear-infrared rays, a temperature measurement device using the opticalfiber for measurement 51 different from the optical fiber 41, atemperature measurement device using a thermocouple, or a hardnessmeasurement device using ultrasound waves. Unlike the first embodiment,the measurement device 50 in the second embodiment can measure thetemperature in contact with the tumor C. Therefore, a temperaturemeasurement device using a thermocouple can be suitably used as themeasurement device 50. Alternatively, the measurement device 50 may be asensor that can detect an elastic change of a tumor C having dead tumorcells or a change in blood flow.

Next, the treatment method according to the third embodiment will bedescribed taking the case of treating stomach cancer as an example. Notethat, this description is not intended to limit the organs to betreated.

First, an antibody-photosensitive substance is administeredintravenously. In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, for example,after about 12 hours to 36 hours have elapsed from intravenousadministration, the operator inserts the endoscope 70 from the mouth ornose as shown in FIG. 7 so that the endoscope 70 reaches the vicinity ofthe stomach cancer. Next, the operator inserts the elongated tube 80into the proximal portion of the endoscope 70 and causes the elongatedtube 80 to protrude from the distal portion of the endoscope 70. Next,as shown in FIG. 8, the operator puncture the needle tip 81 of theelongated tube 80 in contact with the tumor C while checking the cameraimage and/or ultrasound image of the endoscope 70. Thereby, the positionof the elongated tube 80 can be fixed with respect to the tumor C. Notethat, the elongated tube 80 may be inserted into the mouth, nose, oranus together with the endoscope 70 in a state in which the elongatedtube 80 is disposed in advance in the endoscope 70.

Next, the operator inserts the optical fiber 41 and the measurementdevice 50 from the proximal side of the lumen 82 of the elongated tube80. The distal portion of the optical fiber 41 and the measurementdevice 50 protrudes from the needle tip 81 toward the distal side insidethe hole formed in the tumor C by the needle tip 81. Note that, theoptical fiber 41 and the measurement device 50 do not have to protrudefrom the needle tip 81. Further, the optical fiber 41 and/or themeasurement device 50 may be inserted into the endoscope 70 in a statein which the optical fiber 41 and/or the measurement device 50 aredisposed in advance in the elongated tube 80.

Next, the operator performs irradiation of at least one of the tumor C,the vicinity of the tumor C, or the regional lymph node with the firstnear-infrared ray from the optical fiber 41. Thereby, manyantigen-presenting cells can be gathered in the irradiation target site.As a result, when tumor cells are damaged and release antigens, antigenscan be efficiently presented by more antigen-presenting cells, leadingto T cell activation. For this reason, the attack capability of immunityagainst cancer can be improved or recovered. The operator stops theirradiation with the first near-infrared ray after a predetermined timehas elapsed since the start of the irradiation with the firstnear-infrared ray.

Next, the operator measures the temperature or hardness of the tumor Cwith the measurement device 50 while irradiating with the secondnear-infrared ray from the optical fiber 41. By continuing themeasurement of tumor C, it is possible to monitor in real time that thetumor cell to which the antibody-photosensitive substance is bound isirradiated with the second near-infrared ray. The irradiation with thesecond near-infrared ray starts, for example, 12 hours to 36 hours afterintravenous administration.

The irradiation direction of near-infrared rays from the optical fiber41 is appropriately selected. For example, the irradiation direction ofthe near-infrared rays may be the distal end direction of the opticalfiber 41, the direction orthogonal to the axial direction of the opticalfiber 41, or all directions (i.e., the distal end direction, thedirection orthogonal to the axial direction, and the directions betweenthe distal end direction and the direction orthogonal to the axialdirection). The operator can appropriately select the optical fiber tobe used according to the near-infrared ray irradiation target site.

The operator continues the irradiation with the second near-infrared raywhile checking the death of the tumor cells by the irradiation with thesecond near-infrared ray by monitoring with the measurement device 50.The operator can adjust the irradiation direction by operating theoptical fiber 41 at hand during the irradiation with the secondnear-infrared ray.

Note that, the operator may cause the needle tip 81 of the elongatedtube 80 to come in contact with the tumor C without puncturing the tumorC. Even if the elongated tube 80 is only in contact with the tumor C,the position of the elongated tube 80 with respect to the tumor C can befixed. Therefore, a sharp needle tip 81 does not have to be formed atthe distal portion of the elongated tube 80. Note that, when theelongated tube 80 comes into contact with the tumor C, it can bepreferable that the elongated tube 80 bites or digs into the tumor C tosome extent, even if the tumor C is not punctured. When the elongatedtube 80 is not punctured by the tumor C, the tumor C can be preventedfrom scattering to other sites.

When it is determined that the tumor cells have been sufficientlykilled, when it is determined that further irradiation is not desirable,or when a predetermined time has elapsed, the operator stops theirradiation with the second near-infrared ray and stops monitoring bythe measurement device 50. Next, the operator removes the elongated tube80 together with the optical fiber 41 and the measurement device 50 fromthe skin. Thereafter, the operator specifies the position of the tumor Cthat has been irradiated with the first near-infrared ray and the secondnear-infrared ray and leaves the record.

As a modification example of the elongated tube 80, the distal portionof the elongated tube 80 may have a light-transmitting portion formed ofa transparent material that can transmit near-infrared rays. In thiscase, the optical fiber 41 may not protrude from the needle tip 81. Theoptical fiber 41 can irradiate at least one of the tumor C, the vicinityof the tumor C, or the regional lymph node with the first near-infraredray and/or the second near-infrared ray from the inside of the elongatedtube 80 through the elongated tube 80. Further, the measurement device50 can measure the temperature or hardness of the tumor C through atransparent elongated tube 80 in a non-contact manner. Note that, thelight-transmitting portion is preferably provided only at the distalportion of the elongated tube 80. By providing the light-transmittingportion only at the distal portion of the elongated tube 80, it becomespossible to prevent places other than the tumor C from being irradiatedwith near-infrared rays.

Further, at least one slit 83 may be formed at the distal portion of theelongated tube 80 as in another modification example shown in FIG. 6A.The number and shape of the slits 83 are not particularly limited. Inthis case, the optical fiber 41 may not protrude from the needle tip 81.The optical fiber 41 can irradiate at least one of the tumor C, thevicinity of the tumor C, or the regional lymph node with the firstnear-infrared ray and/or the second near-infrared ray from the inside ofthe elongated tube 80 through the slit 83. Further, the measurementdevice 50 can measure the temperature or hardness of the tumor C throughthe slit 83 in a non-contact manner. Note that, the slit 83 ispreferably provided only at the distal portion of the elongated tube 80.By providing the slit 83 only at the distal portion of the elongatedtube 80, it becomes possible to prevent places other than the tumor Cfrom being irradiated with near-infrared rays.

Further, the elongated tube 80 includes a hollow outer needle 84 havingan outer needle tip 85 at the distal end and an inner needle 86 that canbe inserted into the inside of the outer needle 84, as in anothermodification example shown in FIG. 6B. The inner needle 86 has aplurality of hollow branch needles 87 whose distal portion extends inthe distal end direction. The plurality of branch needles 87 ispreferably fixed as a bundle except for the widened distal portion. Thebranch needle 87 can be elastically deformable. The number of branchneedles 87 is not particularly limited but can be preferably two ormore. A sharp inner needle tip 88 is formed at the distal end of eachbranch needle 87. When the elongated tube 80 has a plurality of branchneedles 87, it is preferable that a plurality of the optical fibers 41is provided so as to be inserted into the respective branch needles 87.

When the elongated tube 80 has the outer needle 84 and the inner needle86, the operator punctures the tumor C with the outer needle 84 in astate where the inner needle 86 is accommodated in the outer needle 84as shown in FIG. 9A. Thereafter, the operator can make the inner needle86 to protrude from the outer needle 84 as shown in FIG. 9B. Thereby,the inner needle 86 spreads inside the tumor C. Thereafter, the opticalfiber 41 is inserted into each branch needle 87, and the firstnear-infrared ray and the second near-infrared ray are emitted from eachbranch needle 87. For this reason, the plurality of optical fibers 41can efficiently irradiate the entire tumor C with the firstnear-infrared ray and the second near-infrared ray. Note that, theoptical fiber 41 may be fixedly disposed in each branch needle 87.

As described above, the treatment method according to the thirdembodiment is a treatment method for killing a tumor cell, the methodincluding inserting the endoscope 70 from a mouth, a nose, or an anusand bringing the endoscope 70 to the vicinity of the tumor C having thetumor cell reachable from the mouth, the nose, or the anus, protrudingthe tubular elongated tube 80 in which the lumen 82 is formed from theendoscope 70, bringing the elongated tube 80 into contact with the tumorC or puncturing the tumor C with the elongated tube 80 while checking acamera image and/or an ultrasound image obtained from the endoscope 70,bringing the optical fiber 41 inserted into the lumen 82 of theelongated tube 80 into the tumor C or the vicinity of the tumor C,administering the antibody-photosensitive substance into a vein beforethe bringing of the endoscope 70 to the vicinity of the tumor C,irradiating at least one of the tumor C, the vicinity of the tumor C, orthe regional lymph node with the first near-infrared ray by the opticalfiber 41, and irradiating the antibody-photosensitive substance bound toa tumor cell membrane in the tumor cell with the second near-infraredray having a shorter wavelength than that of the first near-infraredray.

With the treatment method having the above-described configuration, atleast one of the tumor C, the vicinity of the tumor C, or the regionallymph node can be effectively irradiated with the first near-infraredray by the optical fiber 41 disposed in or near the tumor C via theendoscope 70. For this reason, more antigen-presenting cells can begathered at the irradiation target site, and when the tumor cells aredamaged and release the antigen, antigen presentation can be ratherefficiently performed by more antigen-presenting cells, leading to Tcell activation. Further, the optical fiber 41 inserted in the tumor Cor in the vicinity of the tumor C can irradiate theantibody-photosensitive substance bound to the tumor cells with thenear-infrared rays. For this reason, the photosensitivity of theantibody-photosensitive substance causes a chemical reaction to damagetumor cells and release the antigen. Therefore, since the antigen can bereleased in a state where more antigen-presenting cells are gathered inthe tumor, the antigen can be efficiently presented by moreantigen-presenting cells, leading to T cell activation. As a result, thepresent treatment method can improve or recover attack capability ofimmunity against cancer. Therefore, the present treatment method canenhance the effect of killing a tumor cell. Further, since it is notnecessary to administer an adjuvant to activate the antigen-presentingcells, it is possible to reduce the relative burden on the patient suchas side effects of the adjuvant.

Fourth Embodiment

Similar to the treatment method according to the third embodiment, thetreatment method according to a fourth embodiment is applied to cancertreatment of an organ that can be reached from the mouth, nose, or anus.The treatment method according to the fourth embodiment can be suitablyused for the treatment of, for example, pancreatic cancer, lung cancer,stomach cancer, duodenal cancer, esophageal cancer, colon cancer, andthe like. Note that, the treatment method according to the fourthembodiment is different from the third embodiment in that theantibody-photosensitive substance is not administered intravenously butlocally in the tumor C or in the vicinity of the tumor C. Note that, thetreatment system is the same as the treatment system 60 used in thetreatment method according to the third embodiment.

In the treatment method according to the fourth embodiment, the operatorinserts the endoscope 70 from the mouth, nose, or anus withoutintravenous administration of the antibody-photosensitive substance, andcauses the endoscope 70 to reach the vicinity of the tumor C. Next, theoperator inserts the elongated tube 80 into the proximal portion of theendoscope 70 and causes the elongated tube 80 to protrude from thedistal portion of the endoscope 70. Next, the operator punctures thetumor C with the needle tip 81 of the elongated tube 80 while checkingthe camera image and/or ultrasound image of the endoscope 70. Thereby,the position of the elongated tube 80 can be fixed with respect to thetumor C.

Next, the operator locally administers the antibody-photosensitivesubstance from the proximal side of the elongated tube 80 into the tumorC through the lumen 82. After local administration of theantibody-photosensitive substance into the tumor C, the operator waitsuntil the antibody-photosensitive substance binds to the target cellmembrane. When the antibody-photosensitive substance is locallyadministered to the tumor C to be treated, the time until theantibody-photosensitive substance binds to the target cell membrane ismuch shorter than that for intravenous administration, and is consideredto be, for example, about 5 minutes to 10 minutes.

Next, the operator inserts the optical fiber 41 and the measurementdevice 50 from the proximal side of the lumen 82 of the elongated tube80. Thereafter, similarly to the treatment method according to the thirdembodiment, the first infrared ray and second infrared ray are emittedusing the optical fiber 41. Note that, since the subsequent procedure isthe same as the treatment method according to the third embodiment, thedescription of the subsequent procedure is omitted. The irradiation withthe second near-infrared ray is not particularly limited but is started,for example, about 5 minutes to 10 minutes after the localadministration of the antibody-photosensitive substance.

As described above, the treatment method according to the fourthembodiment is a treatment method for killing a tumor cell, the methodincluding inserting the endoscope 70 from a mouth, a nose, or an anusand bringing the endoscope 70 to the vicinity of the tumor C having thetumor cell reachable from the mouth, the nose, or the anus, protrudingthe tubular elongated tube 80 in which the lumen 82 is formed from theendoscope 70, bringing the elongated tube 80 into contact with the tumorC or puncturing the tumor C with the elongated tube 80 while checking acamera image and/or an ultrasound image obtained from the endoscope 70,bringing the optical fiber 41 inserted into the lumen 82 of theelongated tube 80 into the tumor C or the vicinity of the tumor C,administering the antibody-photosensitive substance into the tumor C orthe vicinity of the tumor C from the elongated tube 80 after thebringing of the elongated tube 80 into contact with the tumor C orpuncturing the tumor C with the elongated tube 80, irradiating at leastone of the tumor C, the vicinity of the tumor C, or the regional lymphnode with the first near-infrared ray by the optical fiber 41, andirradiating the antibody-photosensitive substance bound to a tumor cellmembrane in the tumor cell with the second near-infrared ray having ashorter wavelength than that of the first near-infrared ray.

With the treatment method having the above-described configuration, atleast one of the tumor C, the vicinity of the tumor C, or the regionallymph node can be effectively irradiated with the first near-infraredray by the optical fiber 41 disposed in or near the tumor C via theendoscope 70. For this reason, more antigen-presenting cells can begathered at the irradiation target site, and when the tumor cells aredamaged and release the antigen, antigen presentation is efficientlyperformed by more antigen-presenting cells, leading to T cellactivation. Further, as a method of damaging tumor cells and releasingantigen, the optical fiber 41 inserted into the tumor C or in thevicinity of the tumor C can irradiate the antibody-photosensitivesubstance bound to the tumor cells with the near-infrared rays. For thisreason, the photosensitive substance of the antibody-photosensitivesubstance can cause a chemical reaction and damage the tumor cells.Therefore, when antigens are released from damaged tumor cells, theantigens are efficiently presented by a relatively larger number ofantigen-presenting cells, leading to T cell activation. As a result, thepresent treatment method can improve or recover attack capability ofimmunity against cancer. Further, since there is no need to administeran adjuvant in order to activate the antigen-presenting cells, it ispossible to reduce the relative burden on a patient due to side effectsof the adjuvant. Furthermore, since the antibody-photosensitivesubstance is locally administered, the antibody-photosensitive substancecan act on tumor cells in a relatively short time and efficiently. Inaddition, since the antibody-photosensitive substance can beadministered in a relatively small amount only at a necessary place, therelative burden on the patient can be reduced.

Fifth Embodiment

The treatment method according to a fifth embodiment is applied tocancer treatment of organs that can be reached percutaneously. Thetreatment method according to the fifth embodiment can be suitably usedfor the treatment of, for example, breast cancer, liver cancer, skincancer, head and neck cancer, and the like.

In the treatment method according to the fifth embodiment, as shown inFIG. 10, a treatment system 90 that can be punctured percutaneously andinserted into the body is used to emit the first near-infrared ray andthe second near-infrared ray. The treatment system 90 includes theelongated tube 80 having the outer needle 84 and the inner needle 86,the light irradiation device 40 that can be inserted into the elongatedtube 80, the measurement device 50 that can be inserted into theelongated tube 80, and an ultrasound diagnostic device 100.

The elongated tube 80 is the elongated tube 80 shown in FIG. 6B as amodification example of the third embodiment, and includes the outerneedle 84 and the inner needle 86. The ultrasound diagnostic device 100is a known device that can acquire an ultrasound image. The ultrasounddiagnostic device 100 includes a probe 101 that transmits and receivesultrasound waves. The light irradiation device 40 includes the pluralityof optical fibers 41 corresponding to the number of branch needles 87 ofthe inner needle 86. Each optical fiber 41 can be inserted into thebranch needle 87. Alternatively, the optical fiber 41 may be fixedinside the branch needle 87.

Next, the treatment method according to the fifth embodiment will bedescribed taking the case of treating breast cancer as an example. Notethat, this description is not intended to limit the organs to betreated.

First, the operator administers the antibody-photosensitive substanceintravenously. In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, for example,after about 12 hours to 36 hours from intravenous administration, theoperator brings the probe 101 of the ultrasound diagnostic device 100into contact with the skin, as shown in FIG. 11. Next, while checkingthe ultrasound image, the operator punctures the tumor C from the skinlocated in the vicinity of the tumor C with the outer needle 84accommodating the inner needle 86 whose inner needle tip 88 iselastically deformed as shown in FIG. 12A. Note that, the outer needle84 may be punctured not in the tumor C but in the vicinity of the tumorC. After the operator punctures the tumor C or the vicinity of the tumorC with the outer needle 84, the operator protrudes the inner needle 86from the outer needle 84 toward the distal side as shown in FIG. 12B.Thereby, the inner needle 86 spreads at the inside of the tumor C or thevicinity of the tumor C. Thereby, the position of the inner needle 86 isfixed with respect to the tumor C. At this time, it is preferable thatat least one of the plurality of branch needles 87 is punctured into thetumor C, and more preferably, all the branch needles 87 are puncturedinto the tumor C. Note that, it is possible that all the branch needles87 are punctured into the vicinity of the tumor C instead of the tumorC.

Next, the operator inserts the optical fiber 41 into each branch needle87. The irradiation unit 43 of each optical fiber 41 protrudes from thebranch needle 87. Thereby, the operator can emit the first near-infraredray and the second near-infrared ray from the optical fiber 41 insertedinto each branch needle 87. For this reason, the plurality of opticalfibers 41 can efficiently irradiate the entire tumor C with the firstnear-infrared ray and the second near-infrared ray. Note that, theoptical fiber 41 may not protrude from the branch needle 87. Further,the optical fiber 41 and/or the measurement device 50 may be disposed inadvance in the branch needle 87 before puncturing.

The distal portion of the branch needle 87 may have a light-transmittingportion formed of a transparent material that transmits near-infraredrays. Thereby, the optical fiber 41 may not protrude from the branchneedle 87. The optical fiber 41 can irradiate at least one of the tumorC, the vicinity of the tumor C, or the regional lymph node withnear-infrared rays from the inside of the branch needle 87 through thebranch needle 87. Note that, the light-transmitting portion ispreferably provided only at the distal portion of the branch needle 87.By configuring in this way, it becomes possible to prevent places otherthan the tumor C from being irradiated with near-infrared rays.

Further, the distal portion of the branch needle 87 may have a slit.Thereby, the optical fiber 41 may not protrude from the branch needle87. The optical fiber 41 can irradiate at least one of the tumor C, thevicinity of the tumor C, or the regional lymph node with thenear-infrared rays from the inside of the branch needle 87 through aslit. Note that, the slit is preferably provided only at the distalportion of the branch needle 87. By configuring in this way, it becomespossible to prevent places other than the tumor C from being irradiatedwith near-infrared rays.

Next, the operator inserts the measurement device 50 from the proximalside of the lumen 82 of the outer needle 84 of the elongated tube 80.The distal portion of the measurement device 50 protrudes from the outerneedle 84 toward the distal side at the inside the hole formed in thetumor C by the outer needle 84.

Next, the operator performs irradiation of at least one of the tumor C,the vicinity of the tumor C, or the regional lymph node with the firstnear-infrared ray from the optical fiber 41. Thereby, when moreantigen-presenting cells can be gathered at the irradiation target site,the tumor cells are damaged and the antigen is released, antigenpresentation is efficiently performed by more antigen-presenting cells,leading to T cell activation. For this reason, the attack capability ofimmunity against cancer can be improved or recovered. The operator stopsthe irradiation with the first near-infrared ray after a predeterminedtime has elapsed since the start of the irradiation with the firstnear-infrared ray.

Next, the operator measures the temperature or hardness of the tumor Cwith the measurement device 50 while irradiating with the secondnear-infrared ray from the plurality of optical fibers 41. By continuingthe measurement of tumor C, it is possible to monitor in real time thatthe target cell to which the antibody-photosensitive substance is boundis irradiated with the second near-infrared ray. The irradiation withthe second near-infrared ray starts, for example, 12 hours to 36 hoursafter intravenous administration.

The irradiation direction of near-infrared rays from the optical fiber41 is appropriately selected. For example, the irradiation direction ofthe near-infrared rays may be the distal end direction of the opticalfiber 41, the direction orthogonal to the axial direction of the opticalfiber 41, or all directions (i.e., the distal end direction, thedirection orthogonal to the axial direction, and the directions betweenthe distal end direction and the direction orthogonal to the axialdirection). The operator can appropriately select the optical fiber tobe used according to the near-infrared ray irradiation target site.

The operator continues the irradiation with the second near-infrared raywhile checking the death of the tumor cells by the irradiation with thesecond near-infrared ray by monitoring with the measurement device 50.When it is determined that the tumor cells have been sufficientlykilled, when it is determined that further irradiation is not desirable,or when a predetermined time has elapsed, the operator stops theirradiation with the second near-infrared ray and stops monitoring bythe measurement device 50. Next, the operator pulls the inner needle 86toward the proximal side and accommodates the inner needle 86 in theouter needle 84. Thereby, the branch needle 87 is accommodated in theouter needle 84 while being deformed linearly. Next, the operatorremoves the outer needle 84 together with the inner needle 86, theoptical fiber 41, and the measurement device 50 from the skin.Thereafter, the operator specifies the position of the tumor C that hasbeen irradiated with the first near-infrared ray and the secondnear-infrared ray and leaves the record.

The monitoring of the irradiation with the second near-infrared ray maybe performed by the optical fiber 41 for near-infrared ray irradiation.Since a plurality of optical fibers 41 is provided, the temperature canbe measured by each optical fiber 41. Therefore, according to thetemperature measured by each optical fiber 41, the irradiation with thesecond near-infrared ray from each optical fiber 41 can be controlledseparately. The measurement device 50 may be a temperature measurementdevice using a thermocouple or a hardness measurement device usingultrasound waves. Further, the monitoring of the irradiation with thesecond near-infrared ray may be performed by a sensor disposed outsidethe body or a sensor inserted in a lumen in a living body.

As described above, the treatment method according to the fifthembodiment is a treatment method for killing a tumor cell, the methodincluding puncturing the tumor C having the tumor cell or the vicinityof the tumor C percutaneously with the hollow branch needle 87 whileacquiring and checking an ultrasound image percutaneously, inserting theoptical fiber 41 into a lumen of the branch needle 87 and bringing theoptical fiber 41 into the tumor C or the vicinity of the tumor C,administering the antibody-photosensitive substance into a vein beforethe bringing of the branch needle 87 to the vicinity of the tumor C,irradiating at least one of the tumor C, the vicinity of the tumor C, orthe regional lymph node with the first near-infrared ray from theoptical fiber 41, and irradiating the antibody-photosensitive substancebound to a tumor cell membrane in the tumor cell with the secondnear-infrared ray having a shorter wavelength than that of the firstnear-infrared ray.

With the treatment method having the above-described configuration, atleast one of the tumor C, the vicinity of the tumor C, or the regionallymph node can be effectively irradiated with the first near-infraredray by the optical fiber 41 disposed in or near the tumor C via thebranch needle 87. For this reason, more antigen-presenting cells can begathered at the irradiation target site, and when the tumor cells aredamaged and release the antigen, antigen presentation can be efficientlyperformed by more antigen-presenting cells, leading to T cellactivation. Further, as a method of damaging tumor cells, the opticalfiber 41 inserted into the tumor C or in the vicinity of the tumor C caneffectively irradiate the antibody-photosensitive substance bound to thetumor cells with the second near-infrared ray. Thereby, thephotosensitive substance of the antibody-photosensitive substance cancause a chemical reaction and kill the tumor cells. As a result, theantigen is released from the dead tumor cell in a state where moreantigen-presenting cells are gathered, and the antigen presentation isefficiently performed. As a result, the present treatment method canimprove or recover attack capability of immunity against cancer.Further, since it is not necessary to administer an adjuvant to activatethe antigen-presenting cells, the relative burden on the patient can bereduced.

Note that, in the fifth embodiment, the inner needle 86 having thebranch needle 87 may not be used. In this case, the optical fiber 41 canbe inserted into the lumen 82 of the outer needle 84.

Sixth Embodiment

Similar to the treatment method according to the fifth embodiment, thetreatment method according to a sixth embodiment is applied to cancertreatment of an organ that can be reached percutaneously. The treatmentmethod according to the sixth embodiment can be suitably used for thetreatment of, for example, breast cancer, liver cancer, skin cancer,head and neck cancer, and the like. Note that, the treatment methodaccording to the sixth embodiment is different from the fifth embodimentin that the antibody-photosensitive substance is not administeredintravenously but locally in the tumor C or in the vicinity of the tumorC by the branch needle 87 of the elongated tube 80. Note that, thetreatment device is the same as the device used in the treatment methodaccording to the fifth embodiment.

In the treatment method according to the sixth embodiment, the operatorpunctures the outer needle 84 of the elongated tube 80 from the skinlocated in the vicinity of the tumor C to the tumor C or in the vicinityof the tumor C while checking the ultrasound image without intravenousadministration of the antibody-photosensitive substance. The operatorcan protrude the inner needle 86 from the outer needle 84 afterpuncturing the outer needle 84. Thereby, the inner needle 86 expandsinside the tumor C or the vicinity of the tumor C. Thereby, the positionof the inner needle 86 is fixed with respect to the tumor C.

Next, the operator locally administers the antibody-photosensitivesubstance from the proximal side of the inner needle 86 through theinside of the inner needle 86 into the tumor C or the vicinity of thetumor C. After local administration of the antibody-photosensitivesubstance, the operator waits until the antibody-photosensitivesubstance binds to the target cell membrane. When theantibody-photosensitive substance is locally administered to the tumor Cto be treated, the time until the antibody-photosensitive substancebinds to the target cell membrane is much shorter than that forintravenous administration, and is considered to be, for example, about5 minutes to 10 minutes.

Next, the operator inserts the optical fiber 41 into each branch needle87. Thereafter, similarly to the treatment method according to the fifthembodiment, the first infrared ray and second infrared ray are emittedusing the optical fiber 41. Note that, since the subsequent procedure isthe same as the treatment method according to the fifth embodiment, thedescription of the subsequent procedure is omitted. The irradiation withthe second near-infrared ray is not particularly limited but is started,for example, about 5 minutes to 10 minutes after the localadministration of the antibody-photosensitive substance.

As described above, the treatment method according to the sixthembodiment is a treatment method for killing a tumor cell, the methodincluding puncturing the tumor C having the tumor cell or the vicinityof the tumor C percutaneously with the hollow elongated tube 80 whileacquiring and checking an ultrasound image percutaneously, bringing theoptical fiber 41 inserted into a lumen of the branch needle 87 into thetumor C or the vicinity of the tumor C, administering theantibody-photosensitive substance into the tumor C or the vicinity ofthe tumor C from the branch needle 87 after the bringing of the branchneedle 87 to the vicinity of the tumor C, irradiating at least one ofthe tumor C, the vicinity of the tumor C, or the regional lymph nodewith the first near-infrared ray by the optical fiber 41, andirradiating the antibody-photosensitive substance bound to a tumor cellmembrane in the tumor cell with the second near-infrared ray having ashorter wavelength than that of the first near-infrared ray.

With the treatment method having the above-described configuration, atleast one of the tumor C, the vicinity of the tumor C, or the regionallymph node can be effectively irradiated with the first near-infraredray by the optical fiber 41 disposed in or near the tumor C via thebranch needle 87. For this reason, more antigen-presenting cells can begathered at the irradiation target site, and when the tumor cells aredamaged and release the antigen, antigen presentation is efficientlyperformed by more antigen-presenting cells, leading to T cellactivation. Further, the optical fiber 41 inserted in the tumor C or inthe vicinity of the tumor C can effectively irradiate theantibody-photosensitive substance bound to the tumor cells with thesecond near-infrared ray. Thereby, the photosensitive substance of theantibody-photosensitive substance can cause a chemical reaction and killthe tumor cells. Therefore, the antigen is released from the dead tumorcell in a state where more antigen-presenting cells are gathered, andthe antigen presentation is efficiently performed. As a result, thepresent treatment method can improve or recover attack capability ofimmunity against cancer and enhance the effect of killing tumor cells.Further, since there is no need to administer an adjuvant in order toactivate the antigen-presenting cells, the burden on a patient due toside effects of the adjuvant can be reduced. Furthermore, since theantibody-photosensitive substance is locally administered, theantibody-photosensitive substance can act on tumor cells in a relativelyshort time with relatively high probability. In addition, since theantibody-photosensitive substance can be administered in a small amountonly at a necessary place, the relative burden on the patient can bereduced.

Seventh Embodiment

Similar to the treatment method according to the first embodiment, thetreatment method according to a seventh embodiment is applied to cancertreatment of an organ that can be reached transvascularly. The treatmentmethod according to the seventh embodiment can be suitably used, forexample, for the treatment of liver cancer, lung cancer, pancreaticcancer, and the like. Note that, the treatment method according to theseventh embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that theantibody-photosensitive substance is not administered intravenously butthe anti-cancer agent is administered locally or intravenously to thenutrient blood vessel of the organ where tumor C is formed. In thetreatment method according to the seventh embodiment, the treatmentsystem 10 (see FIG. 1) used in the treatment method according to thefirst embodiment can be used. Note that, the measurement device 50 formonitoring that the tumor cell to which the antibody-photosensitivesubstance is bound is irradiated with the second near-infrared ray maynot be used.

The anti-cancer agent is not specifically limited, and for example, theanti-cancer agent can be doxorubicin, oxaliplatin, and the like.

Next, the treatment method according to the seventh embodiment will bedescribed taking the case of treating liver cancer as an example. Notethat, this description is not intended to limit the organs to betreated.

In the treatment method according to the seventh embodiment, theoperator inserts the catheter 30 into the hepatic artery while leadingthe guide wire 20 from, for example, the femoral artery, brachialartery, radial artery, and the like as shown in FIG. 2. Next, theoperator removes the guide wire 20 from the catheter 30.

Next, the operator inserts the optical fiber 41 into the lumen 31 fromthe proximal side of the catheter 30. As shown in FIG. 13, the distalportion of the optical fiber 41 protrudes from the catheter 30 towardthe distal side. Next, the operator causes the position of theorientation marker 44 of the optical fiber 41 to reach the targetposition while checking the position of the orientation marker 44 of theoptical fiber 41 under X-ray contrast. The target position is a positionclose to the tumor C and capable of irradiating at least one of thetumor C, the vicinity of the tumor C, or the regional lymph node withthe first near-infrared ray.

Next, the operator supplies the saline solution to the lumen 31 from theproximal side of the catheter 30. The saline solution flows into thehepatic artery through a gap in the lumen 31 in which the optical fiber41 is inserted. Thereby, the saline solution is injected (flushed) fromthe catheter 30 to the hepatic artery. For this reason, blood in thehepatic artery where the optical fiber 41 is located is pushed away(i.e., displaced by the saline solution), and the hepatic artery istemporarily filled with the saline solution. When the catheter 30 hasthe balloon 32, the balloon 32 may be inflated before, during, or afterflushing the saline solution. Thereby, the blood flow in the hepaticartery is blocked and the hepatic artery is temporarily filled with thesaline solution. For this reason, the hepatic artery can be morereliably filled with the saline solution. Note that, the operator mayinflate the balloon 32 without flushing the saline solution.

After filling the hepatic artery with the saline solution or blockingthe blood flow in the hepatic artery, the operator may observe thehepatic artery with the optical fiber 41. Thereby, the operator canaccurately check that the hepatic artery is filled with the salinesolution and/or that the blood flow in the hepatic artery is blocked.

Next, the operator performs irradiation of at least one of the tumor C,the vicinity of the tumor C, or the regional lymph node with the firstnear-infrared ray from the optical fiber 41 for photolaser adjuvant. Atthis time, since the hepatic artery is filled with the saline solutionand/or the blood flow in the hepatic artery is blocked, the irradiationwith the first near-infrared ray is hardly affected by blood. For thisreason, the first near-infrared ray can effectively reach at least oneof the tumor C, the vicinity of the tumor C, or the regional lymph node.Therefore, the irradiation with the first near-infrared ray can beperformed rather effectively. Thereby, more antigen-presenting cells canbe gathered at the irradiation target site, and when the tumor cells aredamaged and release the antigen, antigen presentation is efficientlyperformed by more antigen-presenting cells, leading to T cellactivation. For this reason, the attack capability of immunity againstcancer can be improved or recovered. The operator stops the irradiationwith the first near-infrared ray after a predetermined time has elapsedsince the start of the irradiation with the first near-infrared ray.

Next, the operator removes the optical fiber 41 from the catheter 30.Next, the operator locally administers the anti-cancer agent from theproximal side of the catheter 30 into the hepatic artery via the lumen31. Note that, in the case of treatment of lung cancer, an anti-canceragent is locally administered to the bronchial artery, which is thenutrient artery of the lung to be treated. Note that, without removingthe optical fiber 41 from the catheter 30, an anti-cancer agent may beadministered through the gap between the lumen 31 and the optical fiber41. Alternatively, the operator may administer the anti-cancer agentintravenously. The administration of the anti-cancer agent may beperformed before the irradiation with the first near-infrared ray by theoptical fiber 41. Therefore, administration of anti-cancer agent may beperformed before inserting the optical fiber 41 into the catheter 30.The operator removes the catheter 30 together with the optical fiber 41from the skin. The operator specifies the position of the tumor C thathas been irradiated with the first near-infrared ray and leaves therecord.

As described above, the treatment method according to the seventhembodiment is a treatment method for killing a tumor cell, the methodincluding inserting the catheter 30 into the main artery of an organhaving the tumor cell, inserting the optical fiber 41 into the catheter30, reducing an influence of blood in the artery on the near-infraredray, irradiating at least one of the tumor C having the tumor cell, thevicinity of the tumor C, or the regional lymph node with the firstnear-infrared ray from the optical fiber 41, and administering theanti-cancer agent into a vein or administering the anti-cancer agentinto an artery from the catheter 30.

With the treatment method having the above-described configuration, itis possible to effectively irradiate at least one of the tumor C, thevicinity of the tumor C, or a regional lymph node with the firstnear-infrared ray from the optical fiber 41 inserted into an artery nearthe tumor C through the catheter 30. For this reason, moreantigen-presenting cells can be gathered at an irradiation target site,and when tumor cells are damaged and release the antigen, antigenpresentation is performed efficiently, leading to T cell activation.Further, as a method of damaging tumor cells, this treatment method canadminister an anti-cancer agent intravenously or locally to an artery.Therefore, in the present treatment method, the antigen is released fromthe tumor cells in a state where the antigen-presenting cells aregathered in the vicinity of the tumor, so that the antigen isefficiently presented. As a result, the present treatment method canimprove or recover attack capability of immunity against cancer.Further, since it is not necessary to administer an adjuvant to activatethe antigen-presenting cells, the relative burden on the patient such asside effects of the adjuvant can be reduced. When the anti-cancer agentis locally administered, the anti-cancer agent can be allowed to act ontumor cells in a relatively short time and relatively efficiently.Further, since the anti-cancer agent can be administered in a relativelysmall amount only at a necessary place, the relative burden on thepatient can be reduced.

Eighth Embodiment

Similar to the treatment method according to the third embodiment, thetreatment method according to an eighth embodiment is applied to cancertreatment of an organ that can be reached from the mouth, nose, or anus.The treatment method according to the eighth embodiment can be suitablyused for the treatment of, for example, pancreatic cancer, lung cancer,stomach cancer, duodenal cancer, esophageal cancer, colon cancer, andthe like. Note that, the treatment method according to the eighthembodiment is different from the third embodiment in that theantibody-photosensitive substance is not administered intravenously, butthe anti-cancer agent is administered locally in the tumor C or in thevicinity of the tumor C. In the treatment method according to the eighthembodiment, the treatment system 60 (see FIG. 5) used in the treatmentmethod according to the third embodiment can be used. Note that, themeasurement device 50 for monitoring may not be used.

Next, the treatment method according to the eighth embodiment will bedescribed taking the case of treating stomach cancer as an example. Notethat, this description is not intended to limit the organs to betreated.

The operator inserts the endoscope 70 from the mouth or nose as shown inFIG. 7 so that the endoscope 70 reaches the vicinity of the stomachcancer. Next, the operator inserts the elongated tube 80 into theproximal portion of the endoscope 70 and causes the elongated tube 80 toprotrude from the distal portion of the endoscope 70. Next, as shown inFIG. 14, the operator causes the needle tip 81 of the elongated tube 80to come into contact with and puncture the tumor C while checking thecamera image and/or ultrasound image of the endoscope 70. Thereby, theposition of the elongated tube 80 is fixed with respect to the tumor C.

Next, the operator inserts the optical fiber 41 from the proximal sideof the lumen 82 of the elongated tube 80. The distal portion of theoptical fiber 41 protrudes from the needle tip 81 toward the distal sideinside the hole formed in the tumor C by the needle tip 81. Note that,the optical fiber 41 and the measurement device 50 do not have toprotrude from the needle tip 81.

Next, the operator performs irradiation of at least one of the tumor C,the vicinity of the tumor C, or the regional lymph node with the firstnear-infrared ray from the optical fiber 41. Thereby, moreantigen-presenting cells can be gathered at an irradiation target site,and when tumor cells are damaged and release the antigen, antigenpresentation is performed efficiently, leading to T cell activation. Forthis reason, the attack capability of immunity against cancer can beimproved or recovered. The operator stops the irradiation with the firstnear-infrared ray after a predetermined time has elapsed since the startof the irradiation with the first near-infrared ray.

Next, the operator removes the optical fiber 41 from the elongated tube80. Next, the operator locally administers the anti-cancer agent fromthe proximal side of the catheter 30 into the tumor C or the vicinity ofthe tumor C via the lumen 31. Note that, without removing the opticalfiber 41 from the elongated tube 80, an anti-cancer agent may beadministered through the gap between the lumen 82 and the optical fiber41. Alternatively, the operator may administer the anti-cancer agentintravenously. The administration of the anti-cancer agent may beperformed before the irradiation with the first near-infrared ray by theoptical fiber 41. Therefore, administration of anti-cancer agent may beperformed before inserting the optical fiber 41 into the elongated tube80. The operator specifies the position of the tumor C that has beenirradiated with the first near-infrared ray and leaves the record. Next,the operator collects the catheter 30 and the optical fiber 41 in theendoscope 70.

As described above, the treatment method according to the eighthembodiment is a treatment method for killing a tumor cell, the methodincluding inserting the endoscope 70 from a mouth, a nose, or an anusand bringing the endoscope 70 to the vicinity of the tumor C having thetumor cell reachable from the mouth, the nose, or the anus, protrudingthe tubular elongated tube 80 in which the lumen 82 is formed from theendoscope 70, bringing the elongated tube 80 into contact with the tumorC or puncturing the tumor C with the elongated tube 80 while checking acamera image and/or an ultrasound image obtained by the endoscope 70,bringing the optical fiber 41 inserted into the lumen 82 of theelongated tube 80 into the tumor C or the vicinity of the tumor cell,irradiating at least one of the tumor C, the vicinity of the tumor C, orthe regional lymph node with the first near-infrared ray by the opticalfiber 41, and administering the anti-cancer agent to the vein oradministering the anti-cancer agent to the tumor cell C or the vicinityof the tumor cell C from the elongated tube 80.

With the treatment method having the above-described configuration, atleast one of the tumor C, the vicinity of the tumor C, or the regionallymph node can be effectively irradiated with the first near-infraredray by the optical fiber 41 disposed in or near the tumor C via theendoscope 70. For this reason, more antigen-presenting cells can begathered at an irradiation target site, and when tumor cells are damagedand release the antigen, antigen presentation is performed efficiently,leading to T cell activation. Further, in the present treatment method,the anti-cancer agent can be administered intravenously or locally as amethod of damaging tumor cells. Therefore, since antigens are releasedfrom tumor cells in a state where antigen-presenting cells are gathered,antigens are presented by more antigen-presenting cells. As a result,the present treatment method can improve or recover attack capability ofimmunity against cancer. Further, since there is no need to administeran adjuvant in order to activate the antigen-presenting cells, theburden on a patient due to side effects of the adjuvant can be reduced.When the anti-cancer agent is locally administered, the anti-canceragent can be allowed to act on tumor cells in a relatively short timewith relatively higher efficiency. Further, since the anti-cancer agentcan be administered in a small amount only at a necessary place, therelative burden on the patient can be reduced.

Ninth Embodiment

Similar to the treatment method according to the fifth embodiment, thetreatment method according to a ninth embodiment is applied to cancertreatment of an organ that can be reached percutaneously. The treatmentmethod according to the ninth embodiment can be suitably used for thetreatment of, for example, breast cancer, liver cancer, skin cancer,head and neck cancer, and the like. Note that, the treatment methodaccording to the ninth embodiment is different from the fifth embodimentin that the antibody-photosensitive substance is not administeredintravenously, but the anti-cancer agent is administered locally in thetumor C or in the vicinity of the tumor C or administered intravenously.In the treatment method according to the ninth embodiment, the treatmentsystem 90 (see FIG. 10) used in the treatment method according to thefifth embodiment can be used. Note that, the measurement device 50 formonitoring may not be used. Further, the elongated tube 80 may have aform having a plurality of branch needles 87 as shown in FIG. 10, butmay have a form having a single needle tip 81 as shown in FIG. 5. Here,the elongated tube 80 will be described as having a single needle tip81.

Next, the treatment method according to the ninth embodiment will bedescribed taking the case of treating breast cancer as an example. Notethat, this description is not intended to limit the organs to betreated.

The operator brings the probe 101 of the ultrasound diagnostic device100 into contact with the skin, as shown in FIG. 11. Next, whilechecking the ultrasound image, the operator punctures the elongated tube80 having the needle tip 81 from the skin located in the vicinity of thetumor C to the tumor C or the vicinity of the tumor C as shown in FIG.15.

Next, the operator inserts the optical fiber 41 into the elongated tube80. The irradiation unit 43 of the optical fiber 41 protrudes from theneedle tip 81. Note that, the optical fiber 41 may not protrude from theneedle tip 81.

The distal portion of the elongated tube 80 may be formed of atransparent material that transmits the first near-infrared ray.Thereby, the optical fiber 41 may not protrude from the needle tip 81.The optical fiber 41 can irradiate at least one of the tumor C, thevicinity of the tumor C, or the regional lymph node with the firstnear-infrared ray from the inside of the distal portion of the elongatedtube 80 through the elongated tube 80.

Further, the distal portion of the elongated tube 80 may have a slit.Thereby, the optical fiber 41 may not protrude from the needle tip 81.The optical fiber 41 can irradiate at least one of the tumor C, thevicinity of the tumor C, or the regional lymph node with the firstnear-infrared ray from the inside of the distal portion of the elongatedtube 80 through the slit.

Next, the operator performs irradiation of at least one of the tumor C,the vicinity of the tumor C, or the regional lymph node with the firstnear-infrared ray from the optical fiber 41. Thereby, moreantigen-presenting cells can be gathered at the irradiation target site,and thereby, when the tumor cells are damaged and release the antigen,antigen presentation is efficiently performed, leading to T cellactivation. For this reason, the attack capability of immunity againstcancer is improved or recovered. The operator stops the irradiation withthe first near-infrared ray after a predetermined time has elapsed sincethe start of the irradiation with the first near-infrared ray.

Next, the operator removes the optical fiber 41 from the elongated tube80. Next, the operator locally administers the anti-cancer agent fromthe proximal side of the elongated tube 80 into the tumor C or thevicinity of the tumor C via the lumen 82. Note that, without removingthe optical fiber 41 from the elongated tube 80, an anti-cancer agentmay be administered through the gap between the lumen 82 and the opticalfiber 41. Alternatively, the operator may administer the anti-canceragent intravenously. The administration of the anti-cancer agent may beperformed before the irradiation with the first near-infrared ray by theoptical fiber 41. Therefore, administration of anti-cancer agent may beperformed before inserting the optical fiber 41 into the elongated tube80. Next, the operator removes the elongated tube 80 and the opticalfiber 41 from the skin. The operator specifies the position of the tumorC that has been irradiated with the first near-infrared ray and leavesthe record.

As described above, the treatment method according to the ninthembodiment is a treatment method for killing a tumor cell, the methodincluding puncturing the tumor C having the tumor cell or the vicinityof the tumor C percutaneously with the hollow elongated tube 80 whileacquiring and checking an ultrasound image percutaneously, bringing theoptical fiber 41 inserted into the lumen 82 of the elongated tube 80having the needle tip 81 into the tumor C or the vicinity of the tumorC, irradiating at least one of the tumor C, the vicinity of the tumor C,or the regional lymph node with the first near-infrared ray by theoptical fiber 41, and administering the anti-cancer agent into the veinor to administering to the tumor C or the vicinity of the tumor C fromthe elongated tube 80.

With the treatment method having the above-described configuration, atleast one of the tumor C, the vicinity of the tumor C, or the regionallymph node can be effectively irradiated with the first near-infraredray by the optical fiber 41 disposed in or near the tumor C via theelongated tube 80 having the needle tip 81. For this reason, moreantigen-presenting cells can be gathered at an irradiation target site,and when tumor cells are damaged and release the antigen, antigenpresentation is performed efficiently, leading to T cell activation.Further, in the present treatment method, the anti-cancer agent can beadministered intravenously or locally as a method of damaging tumorcells. Therefore, since antigens are released from tumor cells in astate where antigen-presenting cells are gathered, antigen presentationis efficiently performed by more antigen-presenting cells, and as aresult, the present treatment method can improve or recover the attackcapability of immunity against cancer. Therefore, the present treatmentmethod can enhance the effect of killing a tumor cell. Further, sincethere is no need to administer an adjuvant in order to activate theantigen-presenting cells, the burden on a patient due to side effects ofthe adjuvant can be reduced. When the anti-cancer agent is locallyadministered, the anti-cancer agent can be allowed to act on tumor cellsin a relatively short time and rather efficiently. Further, since theanti-cancer agent can be administered in a relatively small amount onlyat a necessary place, the relative burden on the patient can be reduced.

Note that, the present disclosure is not limited to the above-describedembodiments, and various modifications can be made by those skilled inthe art within the technical idea of the present invention. For example,in the treatment methods according to the first to sixth embodimentsdescribed above, the irradiation with the first near-infrared ray forthe photolaser adjuvant is performed before the irradiation with thesecond near-infrared ray for photoimmunotherapy, but the irradiationwith the second near-infrared ray may be performed before theirradiation with the first near-infrared ray. Alternatively, theoperator may emit the second near-infrared ray while emitting the firstnear-infrared ray. The start and stop timings of the irradiation withthe first near-infrared ray and the irradiation with the secondnear-infrared ray may be the same or different.

Further, the treatment methods according to the above-describedembodiments may be appropriately combined. Therefore, the treatmentmethod may include a combination of cancer immunotherapy,photoimmunotherapy, and administration of an anti-cancer agent.

The detailed description above describes embodiments of a treatmentmethod for killing tumor cells. The invention is not limited, however,to the precise embodiments and variations described. Various changes,modifications and equivalents may occur to one skilled in the artwithout departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as definedin the accompanying claims. It is expressly intended that all suchchanges, modifications and equivalents which fall within the scope ofthe claims are embraced by the claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A treatment method for killing a tumor cell, themethod comprising: administering an antibody-photosensitive substanceinto a vein; inserting an endoscope from a mouth, a nose, or an anus andbringing the endoscope to a vicinity of a tumor having the tumor cellreachable from the mouth, the nose, or the anus after the administeringof the antibody-photosensitive substance into the vein; placing anoptical fiber into the tumor or in the vicinity of the tumor;irradiating at least one of the tumor, the vicinity of the tumor, or aregional lymph node with a first near-infrared ray by the optical fiber;and irradiating the antibody-photosensitive substance bound to a tumorcell membrane in the tumor cell with a second near-infrared ray afterthe irradiating of the at least one of the tumor, the vicinity of thetumor, or the regional lymph node with the first near-infrared ray, thesecond near-infrared ray having a shorter wavelength than that of thefirst near-infrared ray.
 2. The treatment method according to claim 1,further comprising: inserting an elongated tube having a lumen into theendoscope; placing the elongated tube into contact with the tumor orpuncturing the tumor with the elongated tube while checking a cameraimage and/or an ultrasound image obtained by the endoscope; and theplacing of the optical fiber into the tumor or in the vicinity of thetumor is through the lumen of the elongated tube.
 3. The treatmentmethod according to claim 2, wherein a distal portion of the elongatedtube has a light-transmitting portion capable of transmitting anear-infrared ray, the method further comprising: emitting one or moreof the first near-infrared ray and the second near-infrared ray from theoptical fiber located inside the elongated tube through thelight-transmitting portion.
 4. The treatment method according to claim2, wherein a distal portion of the elongated tube has a slit throughwhich a near-infrared ray can be emitted, the method further comprising:emitting one or more of the first near-infrared ray and the secondnear-infrared ray from the optical fiber located inside the elongatedtube through the slit.
 5. The treatment method according to claim 2,wherein the elongated tube has a needle tip, the method comprising:puncturing the tumor cell with the needle tip of the elongated tube. 6.The treatment method according to claim 2, wherein the elongated tubehas a needle tip, the method comprising: placing the needle tip of theelongated tube in contact with the tumor cell.
 7. The treatment methodaccording to claim 1, further comprising: inserting the endoscope fromthe mouth, the nose, or the anus and bring the endoscope into thevicinity of the tumor having the tumor cell reachable from the mouth,the nose, or the anus, after 12 hours to 36 hours has elapsed from theadministering of the antibody-photosensitive substance into the vein. 8.The treatment method according to claim 1, comprising: monitoring thetumor cell to which the antibody-photosensitive substance is bound whilebeing irradiated with the second near-infrared ray with a temperaturemeasurement device to detect a change in temperature of the tumor. 9.The treatment method according to claim 1, further comprising:monitoring the tumor cell to which the antibody-photosensitive substanceis bound while being irradiated with the second near-infrared ray with ahardness measurement device to detect a change in hardness of the tumor.10. The treatment method according to claim 1, wherein the treatmentmethod is for treating pancreatic cancer, lung cancer, stomach cancer,duodenal cancer, esophageal cancer, and/or colon cancer.
 11. Thetreatment method according to claim 1, further comprising: selecting anirradiation direction of the first near-infrared ray from one or more ofa direction orthogonal to an axial direction of the optical fiber, adirection towards a distal end of the optical fiber, and a directionbetween the direction orthogonal to the axial direction of the opticalfiber and the direction towards a distal end of the optical fiber. 12.The treatment method according to claim 1, further comprising: emittingthe first near-infrared ray at a wavelength of about 1064 nm; andemitting the second near-infrared ray at a wavelength of 660 nm to 740nm with a dose of 1 Jcm⁻² to 50 Jcm⁻².
 13. A treatment method forkilling a tumor cell, the method comprising: administering anantibody-photosensitive substance into a vein; inserting an elongatedtube in a lumen of an endoscope from a mouth, a nose, or an anus andbringing the elongated tube and the endoscope to a vicinity of a tumorhaving the tumor cell reachable from the mouth, the nose, or the anusafter the administering of the antibody-photosensitive substance intothe vein; placing an optical fiber into the tumor or in the vicinity ofthe tumor via a lumen of the elongated tube; irradiating at least one ofthe tumor, the vicinity of the tumor, or a regional lymph node with afirst near-infrared ray by the optical fiber; and irradiating theantibody-photosensitive substance bound to a tumor cell membrane in thetumor cell with a second near-infrared ray after the irradiating of theat least one of the tumor, the vicinity of the tumor, or the regionallymph node with the first near-infrared ray, the second near-infraredray having a shorter wavelength than that of the first near-infraredray.
 14. The treatment method according to claim 13, further comprising:acquiring a camera image and/or an ultrasound image with the endoscopeduring the placing of the optical fiber into the tumor or in thevicinity of the tumor.
 15. The treatment method according to claim 13,wherein a distal portion of the elongated tube has a light-transmittingportion capable of transmitting a near-infrared ray, the method furthercomprising: emitting one or more of the first near-infrared ray and thesecond near-infrared ray from the optical fiber located inside theelongated tube through the light-transmitting portion.
 16. The treatmentmethod according to claim 13, wherein a distal portion of the elongatedtube has a slit through which a near-infrared ray can be emitted, themethod further comprising: emitting one or more of the firstnear-infrared ray and the second near-infrared ray from the opticalfiber located inside the elongated tube through the slit.
 17. Thetreatment method according to claim 13, wherein the elongated tube has aneedle tip, the method comprising: puncturing the tumor cell with theneedle tip of the elongated tube or placing the needle tip of theelongated tube in contact with the tumor cell.
 18. The treatment methodaccording to claim 13, further comprising: inserting the endoscope fromthe mouth, the nose, or the anus and bring the endoscope into thevicinity of the tumor having the tumor cell reachable from the mouth,the nose, or the anus, after 12 hours to 36 hours has elapsed from theadministering of the antibody-photosensitive substance into the vein.19. The treatment method according to claim 13, further comprising oneor more of the following: monitoring the tumor cell to which theantibody-photosensitive substance is bound while being irradiated withthe second near-infrared ray with a temperature measurement device todetect a change in temperature of the tumor; and monitoring the tumorcell to which the antibody-photosensitive substance is bound while beingirradiated with the second near-infrared ray with a hardness measurementdevice to detect a change in hardness of the tumor.
 20. The treatmentmethod according to claim 13, wherein the treatment method is fortreating pancreatic cancer, lung cancer, stomach cancer, duodenalcancer, esophageal cancer, and/or colon cancer, the method furthercomprising: emitting the first near-infrared ray at a wavelength ofabout 1064 nm; and emitting the second near-infrared ray at a wavelengthof 660 nm to 740 nm with a dose of 1 Jcm⁻² to 50 Jcm⁻².